News / Press Release
Unity Day: Testimony of failed centralized government system - lest we forget
21 Dec 2015 at 14:05hrs | Views
Tomorrow (Tuesday 22 December 2015) Zimbabwe commemorates Unity Day and this will be the 28th year since the Unity Accord was signed by leaders of the ZANU PF and PF ZAPU parties.
As citizens it is important for us to remember that the Unity Accord was signed as a means of ending post independence genocide that was perpetrated to the people of Matabeleland and Midlands on arguable but justifiable evident tribal lines. This genocide, otherwise known as Gukurahundi left over 20 000 civilians from the two regions of killed and thousands disappeared without trace.
It is also important for Zimbabweans to be true to themselves and note that though the Unity Accord was signed in 1987, unity and peace is still far from being achieved as there are evident potential conflicts especially on tribal lines. Some analysts and activists have been noting and arguing that the Gukurahundi genocide has not ended as it is continuing in the form of social, economic and cultural genocide through nepotism and cultural imperialism evidenced by unfair resource allocations, development priorities, deployment of civil servants and disregard for local cultures and leadership.
We at Campaigners for Devolution note that the Gukurahundi genocide perpetrated to the people of Matabeleland and Midlands is a clear testimony of a failed centralized system of government. It is important to note that Zimbabwe got independent in 1980 and three years later, in the year 1983 a genocide was perpetrated to civilians. Should Zimbabwe have devolved power in the year of independence maybe 20 000 souls that were butchered and murdered during the genocide era could have been saved.
Today, it is time for us Zimbabweans to call on our political leaders to speedily implement the Devolution Clause in the Constitution so as to avoid unnecessary conflicts and all forms of disunity. We note that the current centralized system of government failed and showed its failures in 1983 when Gukurahundi was implemented. This system has continued to fail as evidenced by the continued growing feeling of lack of belonging and despondency by the people of Matabeleland and Midlands.
To address these issues, Devolution of Power needs to be implemented in full soon so as to promote citizen participation and involvement in decision and development processes. Devolution will also serve to evade any possibilities of reverse tribalism and reverse tribal conflicts.
Mayibuye I – Devolution!
As citizens it is important for us to remember that the Unity Accord was signed as a means of ending post independence genocide that was perpetrated to the people of Matabeleland and Midlands on arguable but justifiable evident tribal lines. This genocide, otherwise known as Gukurahundi left over 20 000 civilians from the two regions of killed and thousands disappeared without trace.
It is also important for Zimbabweans to be true to themselves and note that though the Unity Accord was signed in 1987, unity and peace is still far from being achieved as there are evident potential conflicts especially on tribal lines. Some analysts and activists have been noting and arguing that the Gukurahundi genocide has not ended as it is continuing in the form of social, economic and cultural genocide through nepotism and cultural imperialism evidenced by unfair resource allocations, development priorities, deployment of civil servants and disregard for local cultures and leadership.
We at Campaigners for Devolution note that the Gukurahundi genocide perpetrated to the people of Matabeleland and Midlands is a clear testimony of a failed centralized system of government. It is important to note that Zimbabwe got independent in 1980 and three years later, in the year 1983 a genocide was perpetrated to civilians. Should Zimbabwe have devolved power in the year of independence maybe 20 000 souls that were butchered and murdered during the genocide era could have been saved.
Today, it is time for us Zimbabweans to call on our political leaders to speedily implement the Devolution Clause in the Constitution so as to avoid unnecessary conflicts and all forms of disunity. We note that the current centralized system of government failed and showed its failures in 1983 when Gukurahundi was implemented. This system has continued to fail as evidenced by the continued growing feeling of lack of belonging and despondency by the people of Matabeleland and Midlands.
To address these issues, Devolution of Power needs to be implemented in full soon so as to promote citizen participation and involvement in decision and development processes. Devolution will also serve to evade any possibilities of reverse tribalism and reverse tribal conflicts.
Mayibuye I – Devolution!
Source - Campaigners for Devolution
